Eberechi Eze: Crystal Palace forward on tears of rejection ahead of FA Cup final

Let go by Arsenal. Released by Fulham and Reading. Trials at Bristol City and Sunderland that came to nothing. Told by Millwall: "thanks, but no thanks." All before the age of 18.

It would have been easy for Eberechi Eze to give up on his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

After all, the youngster from a council estate in Greenwich, south-east London, had experienced nothing but pain, frustration and crushing rejection.

"I remember facing Arsenal a few months after being released by them [at the age of 13] and welling up because of all the emotions and not dealing properly with the feelings of being released," says Eze.

"I didn't know how to process it. I had tears ready to pour down my face."

Having been told by Millwall he would not be handed a professional contract at the end of a two-year scholarship in 2016, Eze had another trial - this time with Sunderland - which was unsuccessful.

His confidence was at an all-time low.

Then Queens Park Rangers offered him a chance - and the rest is history.

On Saturday, Eze is set to feature in the FA Cup final for Crystal Palace, who will win a first major trophy if they beat Manchester City at Wembley (16:30 BST kick-off).

From growing up playing football with jumpers for goalposts in a cage with friends to representing England at Euro 2024, Eze's story is one resilience, determination, faith and self-belief.

It is a journey full of rejections and tribulations that is all too familiar with so many youngsters who have spent time in academies up and down the country.

"I remember the deflation," Eze says about the knockbacks he received as he tried to find his way in the game.

"But all I kept asking myself was: 'When's the next trial? When's the next trial?'"

Watch the full interview with Eberechi Eze on the BBC iPlayer now or during BBC One's build-up to the FA Cup final on Saturday from 15:25 BST.

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